So, what is it? What is YOUR favorite animal? Is it something obscure like a lesser long-nosed bat? Or something a little more Middle America like that baby penguin from Happy Feet?
Here's an idea of the kind of answer we're looking for (and yes, video comments are highly encouraged):








Comments
I like the Ai (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_%28animal%29) but only because it is such a useful Scrabble word.
Posted by: Adam | November 28, 2007 11:44 AM
My #1 animal is the cookiecutter shark or cigar shark.
Posted by: Meirav | November 28, 2007 12:14 PM
I loooove saiga antelope. :D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saiga_antelope
Posted by: Meg | November 28, 2007 12:55 PM
It's hard to pick a favorite, but I'd like to vote for the jaguarundi in the category "talent deserving wider recognition."
Posted by: HP | November 28, 2007 1:11 PM
The Killer Whale is by far my favorite. No natural predators as an adult and gets to eat fresh fish all day. Sounds like a good deal.
Posted by: Jonathan | November 28, 2007 1:52 PM
LOBE FIN FISH!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobe-finned_fish
They are fun and they make great pets - you can take them for walks, or go swimming with them.
Posted by: J-Dog | November 28, 2007 1:57 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyala
Nyala antelope! I will concede that saiga antelope are incredibly awesome as well. In fact, put me down for all bovids, there are too many cool ones in the group to choose.
Posted by: Bovi | November 28, 2007 2:55 PM
Embioptera. There ain't nothing cuter.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor | November 28, 2007 7:43 PM
Chimpanzees. Primates in general, but especially chimps. I spend most of my vacation time traveling to volunteer at ape sanctuaries and attend chimp conferences. Some people might call it an obsession.
Posted by: Gerry L | November 28, 2007 10:45 PM
Definitely Olgoi Khorkhoi, the legless apparition from the Gobi desert. Mongols call it "the death worm" and they claim this lage animal can kill at the distance. Nobody is said to have survive an up-close look at the creature (but if you are brave I can offer a pic):
http://orgprepdaily.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/olgoi-chorchoi.jpg
Posted by: milkshake | November 28, 2007 11:05 PM
Stomatopods, every time; the most advanced targeting system in the animal kingdom, and a punch (literally) like a bullet.
Posted by: Will Goring | November 29, 2007 7:01 AM
For me it's the Sir David's long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), but the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is a close second!
Posted by: Anne-Marie Hodge | November 29, 2007 11:50 AM
I'll go with puffins for now, but I'd have a hard time turning down llamas if they tried to buy my vote. Same with hedgehogs. Or any of a half-dozen pretty insect species. Or...
Posted by: Myles | November 30, 2007 1:33 AM
Has to be the Olgoi Khorkhoi.
Creationist proof that there must be a god.
Pure genius.
Posted by: eugen | November 30, 2007 2:56 AM
Sloths. All sizes, all shapes. Just watching them relaxes me and before long I need a nap.
Also, Hyena. Because they're just NEAT, with the bone-crushing and the super-protein milk and the matriarchies.
Posted by: Jenbug | November 30, 2007 10:31 AM
The Alligator! Crikey he's been around for millions of years, is the best evidence that a meteor did not kill the dinosaurs(else why would he be here?) and is the perfect organism for hunting, and is the perfect mother to her brood.
Posted by: Dior | December 1, 2007 5:36 PM
All tapirs!
The fuzzy wuzzy Wooly Tapir, the panda bear Malayan Tapir, the sleek Baird's Tapir and my personal fav of the fav: the proud Brazilian Tapir.
Posted by: Tyler | December 7, 2007 5:06 PM
My animal is the shark.
Posted by: sally | January 9, 2008 6:09 PM